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LUZERNE &#8212; The Borough Council heard extensive complaints during Wednesday night&#8217;s meeting about the parking situation on Charles Street near the Joan Harris Dance Studio.The complaints detailed the inconveniences experienced by residents in the area during times when parents are dropping off and picking up children who are practicing dance and music at the facility.They claim that there are regular incidents of blocked driveways and double-parked cars blocking traffic altogether as well as excessive litter in the area of the facility.It is also claimed that some parents are vulgar and confrontational when approached.Council members acknowledged that the complaints are not new, stating that snow plows and even emergency vehicles have struggled to get by Charles and nearby streets when activities are going on at the facility.Council members Mary Ellen Schell and Judy Gober, who also live near the facility, shared that they too have regularly experienced traffic difficulties.While police have been able to alleviate some problems, there has never been a long-term solution to the issue.Several residents claimed to have consulted representatives of the dance studio, but said that there has been no cooperation toward a resolution.Gober stated that she was under the impression that the studio was supposed to provide notification to parents regarding their habits and behaviors.All of these issues seem compounded by the excessive snow that accumulated during this winter.When reached for comment on Thursday, Jim Harris, owner of the Joan Harris Dance Studio, claimed not to be aware of any complaints.&#8220;This is absolutely news to me,&#8221; Harris said.He acknowledged that recent parking conditions have been less than ideal, but attributed the problem to piles of snow on the road and dumpsters used for construction on homes in the area.Neither residents nor council members made reference to any construction during the meeting.Harris also claimed that parents of the dance and music students are told to use the 40 parking spaces in the studio&#8217;s lot.Luzerne Borough officials intend to meet with Harris to elaborate on the issues in person in the coming weeks.The next regular meeting of the Borough Council will be at 7 p.m. April 8.

Parking issues at dance studio draw complaints to Luzerne Borough Council